Filing-case.



No. 727,881. I )PATENTED MAY 12, 1903.

' J F. BEGKBISSINGER.

FILING GASE.

APPLICATION I'ILED FEB. 24, 1902.

* N0 MODEL.

ATTD'RNEY UNITED STATES;

TPatent'ed May 12, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

FILING-CASE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of LettersPatent No. 727,881, dated May 12, 1903.

Application filed February 24, 1902. Serial No. 95,431. (No model.)

" full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled .in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention is a filing-case, and relates more particularly to filing-cases adapted to the orderly and systematic filing of drawings,

tracings, blue-prints, and similar sheets, or for periodicals.

The improvements consist in certain means and devices, which will be fully described in the following specification and clearly set forth in the claims forming a part thereof.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- I Figure 1 is a perspective view of a filingcase partly opened. Fig. 2 is a part-sectional view of the upper portion of the case, the sec-.

tion being taken through one of 'theho llow metal sleeves from which the drawings are suspended. Fig. 3 is a transverse section onthe line as w of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 shows a supporting-sheet or file-card with a drawing at tached. Fig. 5 is a detail of. a hook for fastening the drawing to the file-card. Fig. 6 shows a card of the card-index.

As is clearly shown in the drawings, the device consists in avertical case or box 1, havinga hinged top 2 and a front 3, that opens downwardly to form a desk upon which the drawings are exposed for inspection. Near the top of the case 1 is a series of hollow metal sleeves 4, from which the drawings or file-wrappers-are suspended by means'of rings 5, secured to their edges. In practice the drawings are preferably hung upside down, the rings 5 being fastened to the lower edge of the sheet, and the face of the drawing is toward the back of the case 1, so that when the front 3 is lowered the drawing will rest upon it face up and right side up for inspection. On the inner face of the front 3 are secured curved spindles 6, that telescope with the metal sleeves 4 when the front 3 is closed, as is clearly shown in Fig. 2.

The operation of the filing-case is as follows: A number of drawings 7 and 8, provided with index-tabs 7 and 8 being hung on the sleeves 4 by means of the rings 5, as above described, any drawing can be selected by opening the cover 2 and pulling the drawing toward the front 3, which is then lowered into its horizontal or desk position when the 6c drawing will lie flat on the front 3 right side up, with its rings strung on the curved spindles 6. The drawing can be replaced by simplyclosing the front 3.

To insure smoothness of operation of the sleeves 4 and the telescoping spindles 6 regardlessof shrinkage or slight warping of the case 1 or front 3, I arrange the sleeve and spindle as shown in Fig. 2. The sleeve 4 is preferably made of thin metal and formed with a U-shaped section, as shown in Fig. 3. It is not rigidly-secured to the case 1, but has provision for a limited vertical play to conform with any slight irregularity of movement of the spindle 6.

An inwardly-projecting lugor bracket 9 has its flange 9 secured by screws 10 or similar means tothe-baok of the case 1. The bracket 9 has a curved lower face 9", conforming in curvature to the shape of the spin- I dle 6. The sleeve 4 rests upon the upper face of the bracket 9, as is clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The sleeve 4 is held in place by means of inwardly-projecting ears 4,

which are preferably punched from the metal of the sleeve 4, so as to engage a transverse opening 9 in the bracket 9. A limited amount of vertical play of the sleeve 4 is thus permitted. A spring 11, secured at one end to the frame 1, extends over the sleeve 4 to go keep the rings 5 in place. The outer end of the spring 11 has a hooked portion forminga guide 11 to permit the rings 5 to be quickly strung on the sleeves 4.

In combination with the case and its operative features as above described.I have devised a filing system which operates conjointly therewith. It is frequently advisable to file together all of the drawings of one setas, for instance, the detail sheets of an en- I00 gine design. In such cases I provide a sheet of cardboard or similar material 12, upon, which all the drawings of one set may be mounted. I term this sheet 12 a file-card.

The file-card has rings 5 and an index-tab 12 Attached to the file-card are series of springhooks 13 of the form shown in Fig. 5 or of any other suitable construction. Upon these hooks 13 are mounted the several drawings, such as 14, of the set belonging to the filecard 12. Each drawing has an index-tab 14, by which it is identified. It is obvious that any convenient number of drawings comprising a single set can be mounted upon one filecard and that any convenient number of filecards can be contained in a single case 1. To pick out a particular drawing, the file-card is first selected by means of the index-tab 12 and the particular drawing of that card is selected by means of its index-tab 14*. In this connection I have devised a system of index characters by which any drawing which has become mislaid in the office can be quickly identified and easily returned to its proper place. The system comprises a series of index-cards A F, mounted on the inside of the cover 2. Each index-card corresponds to one file-card and carries a column of numerals, opposite each of which is thetitle of the drawing it represents. The index-cards show at a glance the title and the index-number of each drawing carried by any file-card. When more than one case is used, the cases are numbered consecutively. The index-tab lat of each drawing is marked with three characters first, a numeral giving the number of the case in which the drawing belongs; second, a letter of reference indicating the proper file-card in that case, and, third, the number of the drawing itself. It is obvious that other characters of reference may be substituted for the numerals and letters above described without departing from my invention.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a filing device the combination with a vertical case having a hinged top and a front capable of being lowered to form a desk; of forwardly-projecting hollow sleeves loosely mounted near the upper part of said case; curved spindles mounted on the inner face of said front and adapted to telescope with said sleeves; substantially as described.

2. In a filing device the combination with a substantially vertical case having a hinged top and a front capable of being lowered to form a desk; of forwardly-projecting hollow sleeves near the upper part of said case; said sleeves being of substantially U-shaped section, and pivotally mounted upon the back of said case, whereby a limited vertical movement is permitted the sleeves; and curved spindles mounted on the inner face of said front and adapted to telescope with said sleeves.

3. In a filing device of the class described a hollow U-shaped sleeve; a fixed bracket for supporting said sleeve, said bracket having a curved lower face and having lateral openings; inwardly-projecting ears on said sleeve engaging the openings in said bracket; a spring above said sleeve and a guide on said spring; together with a curved spindle adapted to telescope with said sleeve, for the purposes set forth.

4. In a filing device the combination with a vertical case having a hinged top and a front capable of being lowered to form a desk; of forwardly-projecting hollow sleeves loosely mounted near the upper part of said case; curved spindles mounted on the inner face of said front and adapted to telescope with said sleeves; series of file-cards having rings removablyengagingsaid sleeves; hooks mounted on said file-cards for supporting sheets of drawings; substantially as described.

5. In combination with a filing-case of the class described a file-card removablysuspended in said case; an index-tab secured to the upper edge of said file-card and bearing a character of reference designating said filewrapper; of fastening means fixed to said file-card and adapted to support individual sheets; of an index-tab secured to the upper edge of each sheet, said tab having characters of reference designating first, the filingcase in which the sheet is contained, second, the file-card to which the sheet belongs, and third, the serial number of the sheet, all arranged substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

6. In a filing device the combination with a vertical case having a hinged top and a front capable of being lowered to form a desk; of forwardly-projecting hollow sleeves loosely mounted near the upper part of said case; a spring member above said sleeve, the outer end of said spring member engaging the outer end of said sleeve; curved spindles mounted on the inner face of said front and adapted to telescope with said sleeves.

7. In combination with a filing device, a vertical case having a front capable of being lowered to form a desk; of forwardly-projecting hollow sleeves loosely mounted near the upper part of said case; curved spindles mounted on the inner face of said front and adapted to telescope with said sleeves.

8. In combination in a filing device for drawings,a pair of telescoping spindles; and a spring located above one of said spindles, the outer end of said spring forming a guide and a retaining member for the drawings.

9. In a filing-case of the class described, the combination of a pair of telescoping spindles, and a spring located above one of said spindles, said spring having a hooked portion forming a guide to permit the drawings to be quickly suspended from the spindles and to retain them when suspended.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

J. FRED. BECKBISSINGER.

Witnesses:

I. GOULD, JAMES C. HANSON. 

